A Halloween Trick

     Technology is the toughest obstacle we've faced in the PC, starting from our first application and then endless medical review, and especially after we arrived: maintaining phone and internet access and keeping our computer operable. 2 weeks ago the 5^th Horseman of the PC Apocalypse descended upon us when our computer froze into a loop we couldn't break. Many invocations of task manager and hard booting were to no avail, as were attempted interventions by the PC tech manager. We've now spent 3 full days and many worried hours visiting the best computer servicing location in SZ, who managed to fix the problem after several days of tests, and then literally days of downloading programs that did not survive the assault. We've now mostly returned to functionality – we think. I'm still getting used to the photo processing program I'm using now, and I'm not sure I'm compressing the pix as I should – you can let me know. The struggle continues. And we have no understanding of the cause of this early Halloween trick!

     We caught a Halloween celebration back on Saturday, Oct. 25, because that was when the new group could join us. Some of our group went all out on decorations. Boy can some of those new folks party – most of them till 3:30 or 4, a few all night; I know, cause I saw them still at it when I got up to pee, then went back to bed.

Then Katherine made a presentation the next Friday, Oct 31, to the new group about Books For Africa and had housing (and a hot shower!) at the training facility, so I joined some of our gang at a hostel to celebrate the real Halloween. I was glad to be at each, and I enjoy getting together with the gang, but it's not the same as when it was new and exciting a year ago. We're going to be ready to leave in 10 months.

     The school year is winding down. Grade 7s (in the primary schools) and Forms III and V (high school; roughly sophomores and seniors) have already started national exams, and all other grades and Forms start school tests next week, so this is the last week of classes. The students will still come to school, but there not be classes, so we won't have an opportunity to teach. So over the next month we will try to get some activities going on which we have been trained, that dramatize for them how infectious HIV can be and give practice on making good decisions. We'll see. It's called Grassroot Soccer, and is quite clever, using sports as a hook for the kids' interest; it gets at the behavior change which is the key to what we are trying to do. We will call it Grassroot Netball, because girls are our primary target; they are more vulnerable to HIV, and seem more willing to try to change.

In addition to our class teaching – 4 5^th grade and 3 6^th grade classes - we've been busy tutoring some Grade 7s and Form IIIs on their literature and English comprehension exams, and that has been a kick – some smart motivated kids, reading some very provocative literature on growing up, race, families, and sexual abuse. But that too is over now. The Form Vs will finish their exams this week and next – the girls are letting their hair grow so they can have extensions attached (prohibited at rural schools). And some of our favorites, who first introduced us to the school, will be gone.

      And here, by popular demand, is a picture of Matthew Hunter Coyle in his Halloween Pumpkin costume – he is sometimes known in this hemisphere as Litsanga Lomncane Kumnandze – the Sweet Little Pumpkin.

Martha records his gurgles and chuckles on WhatsApp and sends them to us. All who have heard them – fellow teachers, students, strangers on khumbis - have been charmed. Smart fella, that one, and very melodious!